Second round of submissions for Opportunity Clubhouse newsletter

 Meanwhile, I have also been working on some submissions for a next newsletter, which I will include here shortly. Depending on when you publish that newsletter you may want to slightly edit the introduction. Here goes:

Wintertime & Christmas Holidays can be a fun time to examine (and play with) some of the Toys in the Toy Hall of Fame. Some of the original inductees (1998-99) are:

The Box (For example: Children building a fort with empty cereal boxes.)

Etch a Sketch

Glass made Marbles

Erector Set

Hula Hoop

Lincoln Logs &

Frisbees

Playing with Toys is an important part of aging. Younger children use toys to discover their identity, help with cognition, learn cause and effect, explore relationships, become stronger physically and practice skills needed in adulthood. 

Author and Poet William Blake observed: 

The child's toys and the old man's reasons are the fruits of two seasons.

Frisbees were invented by Walter Frederick Morrison after he and his future wife Lucille had fun tossing a popcorn can lid after their Thanksgiving Dinner in  1937. 

Frisbee has developed into numerous games including the popular Frisbee Disc Golf. A free 18 'hole' course is available in the rear section of the Centre Hall Prairie Park one mile up Brush Valley Road. Bring your own frisbee. 

The Aerobie

The Aerobie - invented by Stanford engineering lecturer Alan Adler in 1984 - is an especially aerodynamic next generation of the Frisbee. For years the Aerobie held the record as the farthest object thrown by Mankind. Frisbee champ Scott Zimmerman even threw an Aerobie across Niagara Falls!

Lincoln Logs

-were named after Abe Lincoln who was born in a log cabin. John Wright, a son of well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright developed this popular toy. 

Note: History teacher and author Dr. James W. Loewen observed one of his students remark that "Abe Lincoln was born in a Log Cabin that he built with his own bare hands!" 

Hello aerobie administrators and facilitators,

Have you ever considered a design such as this? A peace symbol filling in interior space of the aerobie? I think that it would go over well this summer. Imagine great peace aerobies orbiting around the National Mall this Fourth of July or at various war protests throughout the civilized world? Or a special limited edition at the ready in the event a war actually ended? I would take my newfangled “peace missive” aerobie to whatever great diplomats are responsible for ending the war and have them autograph it in permanent ink.

I have always been a big fan of this marvelous toy and even met Mr. Adler at an event back in the mid-80’s that was recorded on CBS’s Charles Osgood files. This was during Presidents day weekend and the worlds Champion at the time Scott Zimmerman dressed up as a patriot and attempted to toss some aerobies across the Potomac River from a Virginia bluff. He taped a Susan B. Anthony silver dollar to the first few aerobies, but they all dropped into the river. Soon someone suggested taping two coins and placing them on opposite ends –to counterbalance each other – and according to legend, this helped Scott became the first person since George Washington to toss a silver dollar across the Potomac.

I also recall at this event that the inventor, Mr. Adler instructed fans as to the proper pronunciation of “Aerobie” (AIR-oh-bee). This often came in handy later when disagreements broke out as to the proper pronunciation - I could always say I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.

Best regards,

Jim Banholzer